1. Early Life and Background
Adriano Giannini's early life was marked by his upbringing in a family deeply rooted in the performing arts, which significantly influenced his career path from a young age.
1.1. Birth and Family
Adriano Giannini was born in Rome, Italy, on May 10, 1971. He is the son of two notable Italian actors, Giancarlo Giannini and Livia Giampalmo. His father, Giancarlo Giannini, is a highly regarded actor known for his work with director Lina Wertmüller, among others. Adriano had an older brother named Lorenzo, who tragically passed away at the age of 21 due to an aneurysm. He also has two younger half-brothers from his father's subsequent marriage to actress Eurilla del Bono.
1.2. Career Beginnings
Giannini embarked on his acting career at the age of 18. One of his earliest and most notable roles was in the 2002 film Swept Away, a remake of the 1974 Italian film of the same name. In this film, he starred alongside Madonna and played the same role that his father, Giancarlo Giannini, had portrayed in the original movie. Furthermore, he re-dubbed his own character's lines for both the Italian and Spanish versions of the film, highlighting his early engagement with voice work.
2. Acting Career
Adriano Giannini has established himself as a versatile actor, appearing in a wide range of film and television productions, both within Italy and on the international stage.
2.1. Film Appearances
Giannini's filmography includes numerous roles that showcase his acting range. His international credits include portraying Giancarlo Rossi in the 2012 ABC television series Missing, where he starred alongside Ashley Judd and Sean Bean. More recently, in 2024, he featured in two Netflix productions: as Tommaso, the half-brother of Rocco Siffredi, in the series Supersex, and as Ugo Jacomelli in the film Lonely Planet.
A comprehensive list of his film roles includes:
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Off to the Revolution by a 2CV | Marco | |
| 2002 | Swept Away | Giuseppe Esposito | |
| 2004 | Stay with Me | Nanni | |
| The Consequences of Love | Valerio Di Girolamo | ||
| Una talpa al bioparco | David | ||
| Ocean's Twelve | Museum director | Cameo appearance | |
| 2007 | 13 Roses | Fontenla | |
| Nero bifamiliare | Ossobuco | ||
| 2008 | Sandrine in the Rain | Leonardo | |
| 2009 | La casa sulle nuvole | Adriano Raggi | |
| 2010 | Kiss Me Again | Simone | |
| 2011 | Black Gold | Pilot | |
| 2014 | A Fairy-Tale Wedding | Luca Maggi | |
| A Woman as a Friend | Giovanni | ||
| Without Pity | Manuel | ||
| The Ice Forest | Lorenzo | ||
| Ambo | Giulio | ||
| 2015 | I Killed Napoléon | Paride Presca | |
| Per amor vostro | Michele Migliaccio | ||
| 2017 | Il colore nascosto delle cose | Teo Moscone | |
| 2018 | The Legend of Red Hand | Davide | Short subject |
| 2019 | Vivere | Luca Attorre | |
| 2020 | The Ties | Adult Sandro | |
| 2021 | Three Floors | Giorgio | |
| 2023 | Adagio | Vasco | |
| 2024 | Lonely Planet | Ugo Jaconelli |
2.2. Television Appearances
Giannini has also made notable contributions to television, starring in various series and television films.
His television appearances include:
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Luisa Sanfelice | Salvato Palmieri | Television film |
| 2006 | 48 ore | Renato Tenco | 12 episodes |
| 2008 | Tigri di carta | Gerard | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | L'isola dei segreti: Koré | Vasco Brandi | 4 episodes |
| 2011 | L'amore proibito | Valerio | Television film |
| 2012 | 6 passi nel giallo | Marco Ventura | Episode: "Sotto protezione" |
| Missing | Giancarlo Rossi | 10 episodes | |
| 2013-2016 | In Treatment | Pietro | 14 episodes |
| 2014 | The Cosmopolitans | Sandro | Television film |
| 2016 | Boris Giuliano: Un poliziotto a Palermo | Boris Giuliano | Television film |
| 2017 | Il coraggio di vincere | Rocco Di Santo | Television film |
| 2022 | Bang Bang Baby | Santo Maria Barone | 10 episodes |
| 2024 | Supersex | Tommaso | 7 episodes |
3. Voice Acting and Dubbing Career
Adriano Giannini is highly recognized for his extensive work in voice acting, both as an original voice actor for animated characters and, more prominently, as a prolific dubber for international films and television series released in Italy.
3.1. Original Voice Acting Roles
Giannini has lent his original Italian voice to several animated characters in major productions. He voiced Rat in the 2003 animated film Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, though he was later replaced by Francesco Vairano in the Italian dub of the film. He also provided the voice for Metro Man in Megamind (2010) and Mandrake in Epic (2013). Additionally, he had a voice cameo as a Reporter in the 2015 film They Call Me Jeeg.
His original voice work includes:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas | Rat | Animated film |
| 2015 | They Call Me Jeeg | Reporter | Voice cameo |
3.2. Dubbing Roles
Giannini's dubbing career is extensive, making him one of the most sought-after voice actors in Italy for translating international performances. He is particularly noted for becoming the Italian voice of iconic characters and major Hollywood actors.
3.2.1. Live-action Film Dubbing
Adriano Giannini is widely known for dubbing Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker in the Italian release of The Dark Knight (2008). He later took on the role of dubbing Joaquin Phoenix's incarnation of the character in Joker (2019) and its sequel Joker: Folie à Deux (2024), effectively becoming the consistent Italian voice for this iconic villain. He has also frequently dubbed other prominent actors, including Christian Bale (e.g., as Moses in Exodus: Gods and Kings) and Tom Hardy (e.g., as Forrest Bondurant in Lawless and Eddie Brock / Venom in Venom). Other actors whose voices he has provided for Italian audiences include Benicio del Toro, Steven Strait, Ryan Reynolds, Laz Alonso, Jude Law, Hugh Jackman, Brad Pitt, and David Harbour.
His live-action film dubbing credits include:
| Year | Title | Role | Original actor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Bad Education | Enrique Goded | Fele Martínez |
| Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events | Lemony Snicket | Jude Law | |
| 2005 | Edmond | Edmond Burke's cellmate | Bokeem Woodbine |
| 2006 | Candy | Dan | Heath Ledger |
| The Black Dahlia | Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert | Josh Hartnett | |
| The Stone Merchant | Alceo | Jordi Mollà | |
| 2007 | Goodbye Bafana | James Gregory | Joseph Fiennes |
| I'm Not There | Robbie Clark | Heath Ledger | |
| 2008 | Definitely, Maybe | Will Hayes | Ryan Reynolds |
| 10,000 BC | D'Leh | Steven Strait | |
| The Dark Knight | The Joker | Heath Ledger | |
| Miracle at St. Anna | Hector Negron | Laz Alonso | |
| Australia | The Drover | Hugh Jackman | |
| 2009 | Star Trek | Captain Nero | Eric Bana |
| Whatever Works | Randy Lee James | Henry Cavill | |
| Couples Retreat | Salvadore | Carlos Ponce | |
| Avatar | Tsu'tey | Laz Alonso | |
| 2010 | Date Night | Tom "Taste" Felton / Tripplehorn | James Franco |
| The Fighter | Dicky Eklund | Christian Bale | |
| 2011 | Midnight in Paris | Ernest Hemingway | Corey Stoll |
| Green Lantern | Hal Jordan / Green Lantern | Ryan Reynolds | |
| 2012 | On the Road | Dean Moriarty | Garrett Hedlund |
| Lawless | Forrest Bondurant | Tom Hardy | |
| The Master | Freddie Quell | Joaquin Phoenix | |
| 2013 | The Counselor | Westray | Brad Pitt |
| 2014 | Exodus: Gods and Kings | Moses | Christian Bale |
| 2015 | Fathers and Daughters | Cameron | Aaron Paul |
| The Revenant | John Fitzgerald | Tom Hardy | |
| 2017 | Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi | DJ | Benicio del Toro |
| 2018 | Mary Magdalene | Jesus Christ | Joaquin Phoenix |
| Venom | Eddie Brock / Venom | Tom Hardy | |
| 2019 | Hellboy | Anung Un Rama / Hellboy | David Harbour |
| Joker | Arthur Fleck / Joker | Joaquin Phoenix | |
| 2024 | Joker: Folie à Deux |
3.2.2. Animated Film Dubbing
Giannini has also contributed to animated films by providing Italian voices for various characters.
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Megamind | Metro Man |
| 2013 | Epic | Mandrake |
| 2021 | Sing 2 | Jimmy Crystal |
3.2.3. Live-action Television Dubbing
His work extends to dubbing actors in live-action television series, bringing international shows to Italian audiences.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Original actor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Pope John Paul II | Young Karol Wojtyła | TV miniseries | Cary Elwes |
| 2009 | Sisi | Gyula Andrássy | TV miniseries | Benjamin Sadler |
| 2010 | La ladra | Dante Mistretta | TV miniseries | Johannes Brandrup |
| 2014-present | True Detective | Rust Cohle | Main cast | Matthew McConaughey |
3.2.4. Animated Television Dubbing
Giannini has also voiced characters in animated television series for the Italian market.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Pat & Stan | Pat | 39 episodes (1st voice) |
4. Personal Life
Adriano Giannini's personal life includes his marriage and family relationships. In 2019, he married Gaia Trussardi, the creative director of the Italian luxury fashion house Trussardi, following a two-year relationship.
5. Legacy and Assessment
Adriano Giannini's career highlights his significant contributions to both the acting and voice acting sectors of the entertainment industry, particularly within Italy.
5.1. Positive Assessment
Giannini has built a distinguished career spanning acting and, most notably, voice acting. His ability to perform a dual role in the 2002 remake of Swept Away, mirroring his father's original performance and even re-dubbing his own lines, showcased his versatility from early on. His consistent work as the Italian voice for critically acclaimed international actors like Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix, Christian Bale, and Tom Hardy has solidified his status as a leading figure in the Italian dubbing industry. His portrayal of the Italian voice of the Joker in multiple high-profile films is a testament to his skill and impact, shaping how these iconic characters are perceived by Italian audiences. Through his extensive voice work, Giannini has not only brought international cinema to Italy but has also made significant artistic contributions that enhance the viewing experience for millions.
6. Impact
Adriano Giannini's impact on the fields of acting and voice acting, particularly in Italy, is substantial. His consistent and high-profile work in dubbing has shaped the reception of numerous international films and television series for Italian audiences. By lending his voice to globally recognized actors and iconic characters, he plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and emotional depth of performances across linguistic barriers. His contribution helps define the auditory identity of foreign works within the Italian cultural landscape, making him an indispensable part of the country's entertainment industry.